An aging China not only imposes pressure on its existing public elderly care system but also on its future generations. The Chinese government is engaged in addressing this urgent issue.

Percentages of youth and elderly within China’s total population
(1980-2050 projected). Image: UN Population Division, 2015

​China is aiming to improve public services for its elderly population by 2020, according to a government plan unveiled by the State Council on 6th, March.

It set goals ensuring 90 percent residents will be covered by basic old-age insurance and for coverage of basic medical insurance to stay above 95 percent.

Medical and rehabilitation services for rural elderly care will be strengthened, according to the plan.

Image: South China Morning Post

​China had 220 million people aged over 60 at the end of 2015, accounting for 16.1 percent of the total population. It estimates that the number of people aged over 60 in China will reach 255 million, 17.8 percent of the country's total population, by 2020.

Elderly care services are far from sufficient across the country, and there were just 30.3 nursing home beds per 1,000 elderly people in 2015.

Image: China Daily

By 2020, government nursing homes should account at least 30 percent of the nation's total nursing beds for the elderly, and a long-term nursing insurance system will be considered.​Efforts should be made to supply more technology products tailored for the elderly people, and to enrich their cultural life.